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171 whether they were valuable or not, the colonel gave them up to the prize-agent." And then, being pressed by certain questions, Yorke gave an account of what had passed between them on the subject; how he had written to Kirke to express his uneasiness at the retention of the jewels, and that the latter had replied to the effect that he had already made them over to the prize-agent.

Kirke bowed his acknowledgments across the table to Yorke for having thus cleared him from the accusation; but the latter could not help noticing that his commanding officer did not appear quite at his ease. And one of the members observed that what Colonel Kirke had said to Major Yorke was not evidence. The explanation seemed, however, to be generally accepted as satisfactory by the court; but as Yorke was leaving the room, the president asked him if he had the letter still in his possession.

"I really cannot say for certain," replied Yorke, "without examining my papers, whether I have or not; but I apprehend my word may be accepted as sufficient testimony of what took place."

There the matter might have rested, for the members of the court appeared by no means desirous of raking up bygone transactions relating to the war; but whether it was that the prosecutor — for so the ex-ressaldar may be styled — got word of what had happened, or that he was already pressing the same line of accusation, he now put in an affidavit from a native banker who had been employed by the prize-agents as custodian of the jewellery made over to him, to the effect that he had not received any jewels answering to the description of those in question; while the prize-agents, who were now residing in distant parts of India, in reply to the question now addressed to them by letter from army headquarters, stated specifically that no such articles had been delivered up to them by Colonel Kirke. This correspondence occupied some days; and meanwhile the prosecutor had submitted another petition to the court, to the effect that he could produce the banker as a witness, with whom some of the jewels had been deposited by the colonel sahib, as security for a loan of money.

On the evening of the day on which Yorke had made his statement before the court of inquiry, Kirke came over to his house, ostensibly to talk over some regimental business, but obviously with some other purpose, it being unusual to discuss such business anywhere but in the orderly-room at the mess-house, or at his own house. Moreover, the relations of Kirke with his officers were now always somewhat constrained; for the absorbing topic of the inquiry could not be referred to, and those of them who knew most of regimental affairs could not help feeling an uneasy suspicion that their commandant had not done his best to make his explanation clear of the transactions connected with the accounts under investigation.

At last Kirke, abruptly changing the subject of conversation, said, "By-the-by, what made you go out of the way to say anything to the court about there being any written correspondence between us regarding that jewellery business?"

This question, and the way it was put, opened Yorke's eyes to Kirke's character more than anything which had gone before. He did not know, except from rumour, how far the ex-ressaldar's accusations had tended to criminate his commanding officer, for the proceedings had been confidential, and each witness only knew so much as could be gleaned from his own examination: but he now saw clearly enough that Kirke would like to repudiate the correspondence altogether. It seemed useless, therefore, to reply, that his only motive was to clear the other from the suspicion of having retained the jewels; and he felt, indeed, that had he known so much at the time as he knew then, he would have tried to avoid saying anything about the letter. He replied, therefore —

"I could not do less than give a straightforward answer to a plain question."

"Of course not," said the other, with a sort of sneer implied in his tone. Then, after an awkward pause he added, "Perhaps you can show me the letter if you have got it — my memory on the subject is not so good as yours appears to be."

"Certainly," replied Yorke; "I will look for it, and if I find it, I will send it you — that is, a copy of it." He added these words from a conviction, suddenly forced on him by Kirke's eager manner, that the original letter would not be safe in his possession.

"Very good," said Kirke, rising from his chair with some heat; "then perhaps you would be good enough to search at once, and then to send me this copy;" and laying some stress on the last word, he strode out of the house, and, mounting the horse which was waiting for him, rode rapidly away.

Yorke at once proceeded to examine the contents of his dispatch-box, 